As the weather gets warmer and the school year starts winding down, many families turn their thoughts to summer vacation and all the fun that implies. The cry of “road trip” rings out as everyone piles into the family car to hit the road.

Unfortunately, the American Red Cross typically sees blood supplies dwindle during summer months as people leave for holiday. Yet, the need for blood never takes a break. With no substitute for blood donations, volunteer donors are the only source of blood supplies for those with sickle cell anemia, car accident victims, or parents experiencing a difficult childbirth. In fact, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. A single car accident victim, for example, may need as much as 100 units of blood.

The Wayne County Red Cross is holding several blood drives this Thursday…one at the local American Red Cross office at 600 George Street from 10 AM to 2:30 PM, and another at The Bridge Church, 188 Whitley Church Rd. from 11 AM to 4 PM.